The Living Legends Adult Basketball League is based in Springfield.
Al McCain of the Boston Legends goes for a layup over Brian Morrison of the Hartford Courier Express at the Springfield Boys and Girls Club. By MIKE JOHNSON
Just because the glory days are over doesn’t mean the dream has died.
This year marks the fourth consecutive season of the Living Legends Adult Basketball
League, an association dedicated to those over the age of 40.
Play started Jan. 7, with three games each Saturday starting at 6 p.m. The Springfield Boys and Girls Club hosts the contests, with the Peter L. Picknelly Court the nexus of all activity.
The playoff round, also known as the Travis Best Invitational Tournament, will start on March 10.
The LLABL is coordinated by Tony Pettaway, who couldn’t be happier to see the league return stronger and better than ever.
“I like to think with each year we’re seeing more and more competitiveness,” Pettaway said. “We’re really proud of the product each area continues to put out there.”
Comprised of three Springfield teams, one Worcester team, and one each from Boston and Hartford, the six-team league taps into an immense talent pool from the greater New England area.
Participating are several of region’s most prominent all-time leading scorers, including UNH’s Al McClain, the University of Maine’s Rufus Harris, and AIC’s James Hector.
The league is part of a broader health initiative, aimed at maintaining the strength and well-being of individuals over the age of 40.
League veteran Andrew Keaton, a member of the Springfield team previously known as “Organix Soul,” finds the spirited nature of the league unrivaled in the area.
“This is without a doubt one of the better over-40 leagues in all of New England,” he said.
“Eighty-five percent of guys have played on the college level, and a lot of players coach on the AAU level as well.”
Despite the novelty feel of the league, competition is still the primary allure for many. It is particularly paramount to those indigenous to the Springfield area.
“We always want to win,” Keaton said. “It means a lot to win this league. We need to
represent Springfield well.”